They pulled up outside Alex and Dev’s house. The past twenty minutes consisted of Ben and Dev’s bickering, then silence, then more bickering. Alex and Holly had shared a few kisses, very aware that they needed to keep their hands to themselves. Well, almost.
As they walked up the path, Evie and Rami opened the door to greet them.
Dev walked in with her bag and went straight to her bedroom and slammed the door.
Evie and Rami looked straight to Ben.
“What?” He said, shrugging his shoulders, hands out to the sides.
“Bickering?…Again?” asked Evie, foot tapping and arms folded. “You need to sort out why you two are always arguing, Ben. It’s gotta stop.”
“It wasn’t me this time, I swear.” He said as he shook his head.
“Sort it out.” Said Rami, pointing at him.
“Alex, did you get what you need?” Evie asked, noticing his bags.
“Yeah. My bed’s coming tomorrow so we can be in when it’s delivered.”
“Good. We had an emergency locksmith here whilst you were out. Here are your new keys. The alarm code has changed too.”
The code had been their wedding date. Alex felt bad that they’d had to change it.
“It’s not your fault; son” Said Rami.
“Dinner’s almost ready. Ben, I called you mother to let her know you were staying. Holly, I figured you wouldn’t want to leave each other just yet.” Evie said as she winked at her.
Holly turned to Alex.
“I should see if Dev’s ok.” She said.
“Ok, baby.” He said and gave her a gentle kiss.
“Ahem.” Said Evie.
“Holly, could you take these keys for Dev, please?”
Holly went upstairs and knocked on Dev’s door.
“Dev, it’s me. Can I come in?” As Holly waited for her reply, she glanced to Alex’s closed bedroom door.
A sick feeling hit her stomach.
“Come in.” Said Dev and Holly entered the room.
It looked the same as last time. White walls with a lilac border around the top. Wooden floor with a lilac, heart shaped rug in the centre. Plain white bedding with lilac bows on the edges of the pillows.
A dresser with eleven fairy figurines. Some by Anne Stokes, some by Linda Ravenscroft, and some others that looked older and smaller. They were Dev’s most favourite things in her room.
She’d kept her walls white so she could change colours more easily.
The first time Holly had been there, there’s been a blue circular rug on the floor with lilac and blue polka dot bedding.
Dev was sitting on her bed, tears down her face.
“Oh Dev!” sad Holly as she ran to comfort her best friend.
“He makes me so mad sometimes!” She cried. “I think he gets off on it.” She sniffed.
“Actually Dev, I think that’s exactly why he does it.” Holly said thoughtfully.
“What? What do you mean? He likes making me cry?”
“Oh no, no. What I mean is…When you’re not fighting, you don’t really say much to each other right?”
“I…guess so.” Said Dev with a frown.
“When you’re mad, your mouth kinda runs away with you, right?” Holly asked, her eyebrows raised.
“Ok, maybe, but what about it?” Dev asked, confused.
“He gets to talk to you because you’re fighting. He doesn’t get much ,otherwise.”
Dev looked as though she were thinking about it.
“Like in the underwear shop.” Holly added. She wanted to make sure that Dev knew exactly what she meant.
Dev had been there for her through her embarrassing factions to Alex, and now it was her turn to be there for Dev.
“He made the comment about knowing what you’d gotten. He could’ve kept his mouth shut but instead, he let you know that he knew exactly what he’d seen. Don’t forget his walking into the sock rack…” Holly grinned and nodded her head, to get Dev to understand.
“So, if we talked more, we wouldn’t fight so much?” Dev asked.
“You could always test out that theory. If he tries to argue, stay calm, and don’t rise to it.” Holly remembered that earlier, Dev had been worried for Ben and Ben had gone ballistic at the thought of Dev getting hurt.
Definitely not just like a sister.
Dev dried her face and the girls went downstairs. As they walked into the dining room, Ben and Evie were sitting down at the table. Upon seeing Dev’s face. Evie glared at Ben who looked hurt at what he’d caused.
“I’m sorry Dev. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He said.
“You two need to sit here and discuss why you keep fighting. Seriously, this has gotten worse over the past few years.”
“It’s ok, Mom. I get a little sensitive sometimes. It won’t happen again…” Holly saw Dev look at Ben with a straight face as she said “…Ever.”
Ben looked down at his lap.
Holly felt bad for him, knowing that he was hiding his feelings. She knew how that felt. It wasn’t a nice feeling at all.
“Holly, Alex and Rami are in the study. Could you please ask them to come here whilst I have a talk with these two?”
Holly turned and she heard Evie’s stern voice.
“Ok. What is it this time?”
“Nothing Mom. It’s over now.”
“So, did you have sex with her?” Rami asked
“No!” Said Alex.
“You were gone a long time in her room.”
“So?” Alex said. “We wanted to be alone to talk and yeah, we kissed. Holly’s my girlfriend and I love her.”
“I know you do, son.” Rami said. “But when you both came downstairs, you looked…flushed.”
“What?! Look, I told Mom, no, so why ask me now? Don’t you believe me?”
Alex had never been asked these questions before. But then again, he’d never had a girlfriend or been on a date before.
“Ok, Alex. I believe you. Do you want to have sex with her?”
“Oh my God, we are not having his conversation, Dad!” It was getting too uncomfortable for Alex. The ‘talk’ they’d had, almost four years earlier, was bad enough. But, now…it was just awkward.
“Look, Dad. I’m not eighteen, and neither is Holly. Ok? Can we stop talking about this now?”
There was a light knock on the door and Rami opened it to see Holly standing on the other side.
Oh shit. Thank you, Dad! Not.
“Um…Evie said to tell you to come to the dining room.”
“Ok, thank you.” Said Rami.
“Hey babe.” Alex said and hugged her. “Did you hear any of that?” He whispered as his Dad left the room.
“I heard the last part…from what your Dad asked you.”
Alex closed his eyes and hung his head as he huffed a breath.
“I promised I’d tell you, and I will. It’s not bad, Ok? Let’s go have dinner and then we’ll talk.”
“Ok babe.” She said. Holly really wanted to know the answer to the question he’d been asked. She pretty much knew the answer, hell it was evident, but to hear Alex say it…she heated just thinking about it.
Dinner was a mixture of awkward silences between Ben and Dev, and Evie and Rami watching all of them with avid interest.
Alex was getting anxious to be alone with Holly again. He didn’t know how he was going to make it through the night without her. After spending all day with her, he knew he never wanted to be apart. He knew they had to, but he didn’t like it.
His parents turned to each other to have their own conversation, and he saw his opportunity to get a little closer to his perfect girl. He pretended to fix his napkin on his lap so he could put his hand on Holly’s right knee.
She flinched but quickly recovered as she didn’t want Alex’s parents to see.
Two can play at that game.
She squeezed Alex’s thigh. His eyes snapped to hers, and she batted her eyelashes innocently as her hand crept up higher.
Alex swallowed hard.
Evie and Rami looked towards them. Alex took Holly’s hand and brought them to the table, like that was all they’d been doing.
“So, girls.” Said Evie. Get anything interesting at the store? I saw you had a bag, Dev.”
Holly and Dev looked at each other and had to hold back a laugh.
“Uh yeah, I got a few items. Nothing all that special though.” She said as she glanced to Holly. Holly had her hand over her mouth.
“Oh. What about you, Holly? Did you get anything nice today?” Dev snorted the laugh she couldn’t contain.
“I did…yeah…um…hmmm.” Holly was stuck for words and Dev was chuckling quietly. Ben rolled his eyes at Dev. Alex put his right hand under the table and reached across his lap to stroke down the side of Holly’s thigh.
“Oh!” She squeaked. She would have to get him back for that one, later. Evie looked between the girls, confusion on her face.
“Mom.” Said Dev and she leant towards Evie and cupped her mouth to whisper.
“Ohhh!” Said Evie. “You could’ve said earlier before I asked Holly too.”
“But then that would’ve been boring.” Giggled Dev.
Ben rolled his eyes again and Holly saw that Dev caught him.
“For those of us with a sense of humour, that is.” She said, waving her hand in the air. ”But I won’t go into specifics.”
After dinner, they went into the hangout room.
“Why do you do that, Dev?” Ben asked as soon as the door was closed.
“Do what?” she asked innocently.
“You know what Dev, don’t be difficult. You were trying to start an argument.”
Dev glanced at Holly and back to Ben.
Holly knew Dev had listened to what she’d said in her room. He was trying to stay calm and not rise to Ben’s pushing.
“Look, Ben. I was merely making a comment. Plus, I didn’t want to start an argument with you, or anybody for that matter. In fact, I don’t want to talk to you if all you’re going to do is throw everything back in my face. So I’m going to sit here…” Dev pointed to the sofa, next to Holly “…and watch TV. If that bothers you, then that’s your problem.” Dev sat down.
Holly and Alex were watching Ben. Holly knew he wasn’t going to leave the conversation there.
“You’re not going to talk to me? All you do is make comments to annoy me and then get pissed when I say something back!” Dev glared at Ben. Then looked back at the TV without saying a word.
Good! Stay calm Dev.
“So that’s it?” He continued as Dev remained silent.
Holly squeezed Alex’s hand as he was about to say something to Ben. She could feel his annoyance with his best friend. He was arguing with his twin sister, after all. She shook her head when he looked to her.
“You’re not going to say anything?” Ben asked, still glaring at Dev. When Dev still hadn’t replied, he ran his hand over his face and sat down.
“Have it your way…little girl.”
Holly knew that comment would get Dev’s back up. She saw her hands curl into fists, and Holly rested a hand on her arm. Dev still refused to speak. It was obvious, to Holly that Ben had added that last comment to get a response from Dev, knowing how much she hated being referred to as a kid. As soon as he realised he wasn’t getting one, he crossed his arms over his chest in a sulk.
“I’ll explain later.” Holly whispered to Alex as he glared at Ben.
‘The Big Bang Theory’ was on TV, and it was one of Dev’s and Ben’s favourite shows. Dev laughed when Penny, one of the characters, said something funny and Ben glared at her.
He stood suddenly.
“I’m just going to go, Alex.” He said. “I’ll see you tomorrow for the gym.”
“Ben wait!” Said Alex as he walked out after him.
“What’s going on?” Said Alex. He didn’t like seeing either his friend, or his sister fighting with each other.
“Nothing. She just got under my skin today, that’s all. I just need to go home and calm down.” A
lex knew there was a lot more to what Ben was telling him. Holly knew, and she would tell him later.
“Ok then, but hey man, thanks for today. This morning. You know…”
“Yeah, no sweat.” They’d tried not to think about Stacey breaking into the house that morning. Because they’d tried putting it out of their minds, it felt like it was weeks ago, not just that day.
Alex and Ben shared a bro hug before Ben left, and Alex returned to the hangout room.
Holly and Dev were talking.
“See what I mean about the kid comments?” Said Dev.
“It was to get you to react, Dev. You didn’t, and he tried again. Sweetie, stay with it. He’ll soon see that fighting with you isn’t getting him anywhere.”
“He’s a pain in my ass!” Dev complained.
“Who is?” Alex asked as he walked in and sat down next to Holly.
“Ben. He’s an idiot, Alex. He gets on my nerves, treating me like a kid when he’s only a few months older. Who the fuck does he think he is? He intentionally pisses me off!” Dev then ranted a lot of expletives in such rapid Spanish, Holly couldn’t make out any of the ones Dev had taught her.
“Uh oh, she’s really mad.” Alex said quietly.
When Dev had finished, she was out of breath.
“I’m sorry to vent on you guys. I want to go to my room to sulk. I’ll leave you two alone.”
Dev hugged them both and left.
“So, are you going to tell me what that was about?” Alex asked as he pulled Holly closer.
“Are you going to tell me about the ‘talk’ with your Dad?” Holly countered.
“Yes, but you first, babe.” Alex kissed her deeply.
“You’re very persuasive.” Holly whispered as her legs turned to jelly.
Alex waggled his eyebrows and gave her his panty melting smile.
“Ok. Here’s what happened, and my theory…”
Holly told Alex all about hers and Dev’s bathroom, and bedroom conversations. She also told him about her theory that Ben uses their fighting just to be able to talk to Dev.
“So they like like each other?” He asked.
“Yes they do. I’m pretty sure of it.” Holly replied, and Alex rubbed his forehead.
“I think I already knew.” Alex told Holly about the times he’d seen Ben ‘noticing’ Dev. The feelings and friend zone conversation she’d missed at lunch when she was driving Emily to the airport. It was as if they were telling each other something, yet still bickering over it.
“I don’t like it though, babe.” He said, with a shake of his head.
“She’s my sister, he’s my best friend.”
“Emily’s my sister. If she told you to stay away from me, how would you feel?”
Alex looked horrified.
“Well, I’d just laugh at her and say some things that she may not like. Your sister might be crazy, but nothing will keep me away from you. Besides, Emily’s not my best friend.”
“True, but doesn’t Ben being your friend make it less weird? You know him. You know he’s not going to hurt her, and if he did he’d face the wrath of a brother, and a friend, in one complete package. He wouldn’t want to risk that.”
Alex thought about it for a few moments.
“So he’s not said anything because of what I might do?”
“I think so, babe, yeah.”
“Oh shit. I always warned him off. I kept telling him to stop looking, and he’d say ‘Dude I’m not! She’s like my sister!”
“Because he didn’t want to make you mad, probably.”
“Shit! Have I fucked things up for Dev?” Alex was visibly concerned for his sister’s feelings and that made Holly’s heart swell.
“No, babe.” She said, cupping his face. “You’re just being a brother. Also, Ben needs to get his head out of his arse and figure that out for himself. He doesn’t need permission to love her. The sooner he realises that, the better.”
“He loves her?” Alex groaned. “Oh my God, he does, doesn’t he? Thinking about it, it’s so obvious!”
“Let him calm down and if he hasn’t stopped trying to fight with Dev to talk to her in a few days, then maybe you should say something.”
“You’re so amazing.” He said.
His entire being full of love for Holly.
“You’re so great with this stuff. You helped Ryan and Riss and now Dev and Ben. You would have totally given them great advice on Monday.”
”Not with you there I wouldn’t.” Holly laughed.
“Why not? Wouldn’t you have wanted me to hear?”
“Considering my earlier problem, my input would’ve been ‘Alex has a fabulous arse and I also want to chew on his lips.’ Somehow I don’t think that would have helped…at all.”
Alex laughed loudly.
“So it would seem.” He said and reached over to her hip to squeeze her butt. “I guess I should tell you about my Dad’s ‘talk’. He said smiling.
“You also need to tell me what you said this morning and in the bed shop, when you said I’m a bad influence.”
“What do you want to know first?” He said, his voice lowering and he cocked an eyebrow.
“I’m a bit scared of both.” She said, becoming breathless.
“Scared? Why?”
“Because of how I might react.”
His smile got bigger.
“Well I suppose I could mix it up a bit.” He suggested and began, without giving Holly time to decide.
“In the dining room, I said…” He moved closer to her and whispered against her mouth “…I had naughty dreams about you, Very, very, hot.”
Holly swallowed and licked her lip into her mouth.
“Also, Missy. You didn’t tell me about your dream.” He said as he grazed his lips across her cheek.
“Um. It was naughty too.” She whispered, closing her eyes as Alex’s hot breath blew across her neck as he moved further down.
“How so?”
“Uhhhhh.” Holly was heating up fast. “We were…at five oaks… and we…almost…”
“Yeah?” He said as he lightly pressed his lips under her ear lobe.
“Oh God!” She squeaked. “Not many clothes.” Holly couldn’t talk properly.
“Did you wake up, before we almost…?” He asked, leaving the words in the air. Holly nodded.
“I had the same dream.” He said.
“Really?”
“I sure did.” He replied. “I have those dreams…a lot.”
“Holy shit!” Holly whisper shouted.
“Do you still want to know what my Dad said?” he asked as he squeezed her firm ass cheek.
“I think I’m too scared now.”
“I’ll tell you anyway.” He said, sitting back.
Holly’s face was flushed, as was his. Thy needed some room to cool off, so Holly moved, only slightly, away as she fanned her face with her hands.
“My Dad asked what we’d been doing in your room.” Alex told Holly why his Dad had asked him about it and the ‘talk’ when him and Dev were fourteen.
Their parents had sat them down on their birthday and decided to have the sex talk with them. They said that sex was special and should be with someone you love and not just something ‘to do’. They were told that boys, and girls, should be respectful and not treat each other like their next ‘dipping pot’.
Alex made a face at remembering that part.
Their parents also made them promise they would wait until they were at least eighteen , not just the legal age of the state, and that it was also an unspoken tradition, in the family, that everyone would wait until they were legal adults.
“So when we came downstairs, my Mom thought that maybe… but I said no.”
“That explains that one.” Holly said.
“My Dad took me into the study and started saying that we’d gotten close, quickly and that he understood. My parents were the same. He then blurted out ‘have you had sex?’ I told him no, but he said we’d been gone for a long time. I told him we’d kissed. You’re my girlfriend, and I love you.” Holly smiled. “And that’s when he asked if I wanted to…have sex…with you. I told him neither of us were eighteen…”
“Do you…?” Asked Holly, flushing again. “…Want to?”
“Holly, do I even need to answer that question?” He asked as he cupped her face.
“I want you to say it.” She whispered.
Alex moved closer until their lips were almost touching. His tongue moved over her lower lip.
“Yes. I. Do.”
Holly bit her lip and whimpered as a new surge of heat flooded her.
“…And for what I said about you being a bad influence?”
“Mhmmm?” Holly was close to combustion. She swallowed. Her breath caught in her throat as her pulse raced. Alex’s voice lowered, almost into a growl.
“I said that’s fucking fantastic.” Alex took her mouth, and her tongue, to his.
Holly grabbed fistfuls of his hair and pressed up against him. He cupped her butt and pulled her in…and Holly’s phone rang.
“For fuck’s sake!” She said, looking at the screen.
“Oh shit. Hiya Mum, what’s up?” She said as she answered. “Yeah I’ll come back soon. Ten? That’s early. Oh ok, sure. Yeah, Ten o’clock.” She pressed ‘end’ other phone. “She said she wants me home by ten, for her own sanity, and to not give my Dad a heart condition. He’s going to pick me up so you don’t have to drive me.”
Alex didn’t want Holly to go. He felt sick thinking about her leaving. If he felt like that now, how was he going to cope when she had plans with Dev and the girls? He’d already had a gym schedule with Ben and the guys, and he didn’t want to go. But then again, Holly liked his body the way it was, so he’d keep working out. It was his hobby too.
“Are you ok?”
“Yeah. I was just thinking that I don’t want you to go and that…it’s going to be difficult when you or I have plans with the others. I don’t want to leave them out, but I don’t want to leave you. Ok, now I sound like an idiot.”
“No you’re not.” She said with a warm smile. “I was thinking that too. Like you said, we don’t want to leave the others out, but we’ll see each other every day.” She stroked her hand on his chest.
“We will?” He asked excitedly.
“Definitely! At school and after. If you need to go to the gym with Ben, then that’s ok. I won’t like being apart from you, but the girls and I could do something at the same time.”
Alex grinned.
“You don’t think I’m sounding like a needy wimp?”
“Goodness no!” She said, giggling. “I’d attach myself to you if I could.”
“Well…” He said looking at his watch “…we still have twenty minutes, so you can attach yourself right now.”
Alex pulled her close again and kissed her sweet, soft lips. He held her butt, squeezing, as he pulled her hips towards him. Holly lifted slightly and wrapped her arms around Alex’s neck and tangled her fingers in his hair. Alex leant back as Holly lifted.
He liked where it was going.
He’d been above Holly twice, now. Actually four, but twice with their bodies pressed together.
Now it looked like…
Is she?
Alex kept his hand around her body and on her butt as he lay back. Adjusting the position of his leg, next to the back of the sofa so it wasn’t in her way, his other foot on the floor. Holly went with him, laying her body onto his. Her braid fell to one side, and Alex gently threaded his fingers into her hair.
Holly’s hand ran down his hard pecs and his chiseled abs. She moaned, and Alex’s pants tightened even more than before. She stroked her hand around to his tight, muscular rear and pulled so his hips pressed into her and he squeaked.
“Oh my God Holly!” He panted as he broke their kiss. “You drive me crazy!” He said as he moved his hands to her ass and squeezed with enough pressure to make Holly gasp with pleasure. “We shouldn’t do this…” He said. “I want you so much…we shouldn’t.”
He moaned again as Holly bent to kiss his neck.
It was her turn to torture him.
She lifted up to look him in the eye, panting, pupils dilated with arousal, heart thumping, body crying out with need…
”Now you know how it feels like for me.” She kissed him softly. ”When you…” she kissed his lips again. “…Do this to me…” she kissed his jaw “…but believe me, Alex…” she kissed his neck “…you’re torturing me just as much.”
“Fuck!” He whispered, and Holly put her hand up his shirt to feel his perfectly contoured body.
She closed her eyes and bit her lip.
“Holy hell.” She said.
Alex stroked one hand up and under the hem of her top, and she opened her eyes to gaze into his. His own pupils dilated, turning his eyes almost back.
“I love you so much, Alex.” She whispered. She really did, and she was also telling him that everything was Ok. That he could touch her without him worrying about it.
“I love you too Holly…you have no idea.”
Holly brought her mouth down to his. His full, sexy lips were sinful; they were so tasty. His tongue found hers, and they stroked over each other passionately. Slower than before, savouring every moment they had left together that night.
Alex’s hand roamed further up, over her bra strap, his ‘friend’ twitched in acknowledgement, and further up to her shoulder blades.
As Holly’s hands roamed over his own body, Alex could feel the stirring getting stronger. Thinking of sports wasn’t helping at all.
He knew they had to stop.
He would embarrass himself if they didn’t.
Holly’s breath was quickening too.
Her fingertips pressed into his skin, and it felt fucking amazing for him.
She pulled away from their kiss.
“Alex.” She whispered. “I think…we should stop now. “I’m…oh God!” she scrunched her eyes closed and took a deep breath.
“Agreed.” He said in a strained voice, as though he had to concentrate just to talk.
Holly got up and adjusted her top, as did Alex and they looked at each other.
Both had very flushed faces and guilty expressions.
“Well…um…that…” Alex said, as he was the first to speak.
“Mmhmm.” Said Holly. Alex blew out a controlled breath.
“You’re a bad boy, Alexandro.” Holly said as a smile split across her face. ”You barely touched me, and…well…” Holly pressed her knees together.
Alex laughed and shook his head.
“It’s all your doing, babe. Even thinking about sports wasn’t helping.”
Holly’s eyes widened.
“I think we should both try to be good. For a little while anyway.” He said with a wink.
“Holly, Your Dad’s here.” Rami shouted through the door.
“Ok thanks!” She said.
“I don’t want to leave you.” She said at the same time Alex said, “I don’t want you to go.” Which made them snort a laugh.
They were sad to be apart.
“I enjoyed picking out a new bed with you.” Alex waggled his eyebrows. “But, don’t let what happened this morning upset you. I know you’ve been thinking about it, and understandably so. What she did to you…” He was so angry with what she’d done to Holly’s garden and memorial.
“That can be fixed in a day or two.” She said, stroking his cheek. “We’re helping too, babe. Ok?” He said and Holly nodded.
“I should go. I don’t want to keep my Dad waiting.”
Alex walked Holly to the door and Dev practically flew downstairs.
“Don’t go without saying goodbye!” she yelled as she ran, eyes red from crying, and hugged Holly tightly.
“See you tomorrow Hol.” She said. “I’m sorry about this morning.” She whispered and gave Holly an extra squeeze.
“It’s over now” Holly whispered back.
Dev released her and Alex held her again.
“I love you, babe.”
“I love you too.” She replied and Alex gently pressed his lips to hers.
“Text me as soon as you get home.”
“I will. Bye babe.” She said as Alex’s parents walked into the hallway.
“Bye Holly.” Evie said with a sympathetic smile. She held out her hands, to take hers, and placed one hand on her cheek.
“If you need anything, just let me know, ok?”
Holly knew Evie was trying to say sorry for what had happened but didn’t want to upset anybody with the details.
“Thanks, Evie. Bye everyone.” She said as she walked out of the door, Alex walking her to her Dads’ car.
He pulled her in for one last kiss.
“I’ll miss you.” She said in a whisper.
“I’ll miss you too.”
Alex watched Holly go, and then walked into the house, head down and his hands in his pockets. He walked towards the stairs when he heard his Dad making a comment.
“He’s found his missing piece, hadn’t he? Even though they’re so young!”
“Without a doubt.” Evie said. That made Alex smile…until he got to the landing.
His ‘old’ rooms’ door was closed.
He didn’t even want to open the door because he remembered what he saw the last time he did. The nauseous feeling returned and he turned away, walking to the spare room, ‘Ben’s room’.
He opened the door and his laptop, phone charger, and art pad were there on the bed.
He rushed over and opened it.
“Oh, thank fuck.” He said to himself. All of his sketches of Holly were still there and not ruined. The larger one on the loose papers, the one that had taken him the longest…the one he completed not long after he realized how much he loved her. The smaller ones; in A.Bio with the daffodil, sitting in the pool room at Riss’ house, standing against the wall with her head back and eyes closed, outside Delaney’s class.
All from memory.
Of course, he’d taken some photo’s in class. In English, he’s taken a snap as she’d been busy writing. At the lunch table, when he pretended to be busy on his phone. The selfies they had taken the night before… Alex saw a note on the dresser. It read: -
Alex, Honey. I know you don’t want to talk about this right now, but we’re here for you. Always.
We love you so much, our precious boy.
Mom & Dad.
P.s. I’ve filled the drawers and closet with things definitely not touched. They’re from the laundry room and the others, I picked up from the dry cleaners whilst you were out.
Alex checked everything out. His Mom had done it all for him, and he was grateful. He didn’t have to go into the other room to retrieve anything, and he was truly grateful.
Alex’s phone beeped, and his stomach flipped with anticipation. It was Holly!
H: Hi babe. Just got back. Are you ok?
Alex was relieved Holly was home safe.
A: I am now. I’m glad you’re back safe. Are you ok?
H: No. I’m lonely. :(
A: Me too, babe. Will I see you in the morning?
H: What time do you go to the gym with Ben?
A: About 9:30am. We’re usually only there for an hour, though. Is after that too early?
H: I’ll be over before you go. ;)
A: Really? Awesome! :D
H: I’ll get Dev to help me for the hour. :D What are you doing now?
A: I’m sorting through my stuff in the spare room.
H: I’m sorry you have to do that, babe.
Alex knew Holly wasn’t happy, at all, about him having to change rooms. He didn’t like the fact that she was more worried over his situation than her own. He hated that her garden had been ruined, and her Dad’s memorial had been torn apart, yet she was more upset over what happened to him.
His stuff could be replaced easily. Her hard work had been destroyed in a matter of minutes.
A: I’m sorry about your garden.
Alex’s phone rang. It was Holly and he was happy she was calling. He preferred to hear her voice.
“Hey, babe.” He said.
“Hi baby. Look. You don’t have to be sorry about what she did. I can fix it. If my Dad’s ashes had been…” Alex could hear Holly blowing out an angry breath.
“…Then, I wouldn’t be so calm about it. Everything else can be replaced. His plants will grow again.”
“But, babe, all your hard work…” He began to say.
“Yeah, she trashed it and killed a lot of the flowers. I can fix it.”
“We can fix it, remember? All of us.” There was no way they were letting Holly do all of the work on her own.
Not a chance.
“How are you so perfect?” she sighed into the phone, making Alex’s skin tingle.
“I love you.” He said quietly and so full of emotion, his eyes misted.
“I love you too.” She said, and her breath caught as if she were going to cry.
“Baby are you ok?” He asked gently.
“Yeah.” She said, sniffling. “Just emotional… again.” And she snorted a short laugh.
Alex just listened to Holly breathe for a few seconds whilst he switched on his laptop.
His wallpaper…Holly at the lunch table.
“You’re the wallpaper on my laptop, you know.” He said.
“I am? Is it a picture from last night?”
Was she going to freak when he told her?
“Um…no. It’s one that I took a little while ago. At lunch.” He said and waited for her to reply.
“What? How did you get a picture of me at lunch?” Holly didn’t sound mad. She sounded as though she was happy about it, and Alex relaxed.
“I…may have pretended to be texting, and I took you picture when you were texting Emily.”
Holly laughed.
“Oh my God!” She said, still laughing.
“What?” He asked. He didn’t understand why it was so funny.
“I wasn’t texting Emily. I’ll show you what I was doing…hang on.” Whilst Alex was listening, he heard a small ’ping’ from his phone. He’d received a picture from Holly. As he opened it, he realized what they’d both done.
He’d taken a picture of Holly, taking a picture of him!
It was his turn to laugh.
“Wow, that’s crazy!” He said, still chuckling.
“That’s why I was wary of giving you my phone at Riss’. I was worried you’d see it.”
Alex remembered Holly holding her phone back, before she handed it to him to translate the lyrics she’s sung.
“I would have loved it. And I do. But…if you’d have just asked, I would have posed for you.”
“Oh my God!” She squealed.“ That wouldn’t have been appropriate though.” She said with mischief in her voice.
“Why not?” Alex really wanted to know the answer to that question. He had a feeling it was going to be hot.
“Well…telling you to take off your shirt and lay on the table, so I could take a picture, might have been a bit much for lunch time.”
“I see your point.” He said, still chuckling. “Oh yeah…” He said as he remembered something. “I think you forgot your bag of stuff you left in my car.
"“Yes I did! I’ll have to remember then in the morning.”
“I could go outside and get them. You know…have a little peek inside…just to see.”
“Don’t you dare!” Holly whisper shouted as he chuckled.
“Why not? I was wondering what you’d chosen out of the things you picked up.” He said innocently.
“No, Alex. You cannot see them.” Holly sounded shocked but with humor too.
Alex was certainly having fun with it.
“Aww babe, just a little tiny peek?”
“Not a chance, Mister!”
“Tell me what you chose, then.” He said with a threat that was ‘tell me, or I’ll see for myself’.
“You really want to know what underwear I chose?” she asked, sultrily.
“Yes I do.” He said in the tone that he knew Holly loved so much.
“Well!” She said in a mock gasp. “Mr. Valencia. I thought you were so sweet and innocent.” Holly giggled.
“I kind of changed when as very sexy British girl almost walked into me at school. I don’t think sweet and innocent things around her…at all.” He said in that same tone and he could hear Holly’s breathing quicken on the other end.
“You are a bad boy, Alexandro.” She breathed into the phone.
“Because of you, babe. But, you still haven’t told me.”
“All of it.” She said.
Holly had bought everything Justin, the nicer assistant, had suggested.
“Holy fuck!” Alex said as he almost shouted.
He remembered the white lacy set. That was fucking awesome imagining Holly wearing it. The red set was too hot to even think about because his pants had gotten too tight as it was, and he may just explode.
He also remembered black sets, pink sets, teddy’s (he heard the assistant saying) and that Holly had to have special ones because of the size of her ‘ladies’.
“Alex, are you ok there?” Holly’s voice was amused on the other end of the phone.
Alex had growled, sexily down the phone and Holly’s breath was coming even harder down the line.
“Yeah, just remembering what…” He swallowed hard “…You had looked at.” His hand gripped his phone tightly as he scrunched his eyes closed and took a deep breath to calm himself.
“Yeahhhhh.” Holly said with a purr. “They’re very nice.” Alex whined a complaint into the phone. “I’m sorry babe that was mean.” She said even though she was laughing. Alex knew she never meant to make it painful for him, even though he was in agony. His body had broken into a sweat during their conversation, and he could hear his heart pounding in his ears. There was one thing he knew he could say that could quickly escalate the way their thoughts had turned during their call.
“Holly?” He whispered in a low growl, breathless, trying his hardest to control himself.
“Yeah?” she asked with a breathlessness to her tone too.
“Nine days, babe. Nine days.”
Holly gasped with a shaky breath.
“Just remember that, babe. In under two hours, it’ll be eight.”
“Mhmm.” He heard her say as she breathed into the phone.
“That’s so not fair.” She finally said.
“Neither is you telling me about your new underwear.” He said with a smile.
“You asked, I told. Anyway, I saw what you bought today, too.”
“I know you did. I’m wearing a pair very similar to them right now.”
If she’s going to tell me what she has on I’m going to burst.
Alex carried on talking before Holly could reply, as he was on his way to the main bathroom to get ready for a cold, cold shower.
“They’re black, with a white waist band saying ‘Calvin Klein.”
“Oh my God.” She barely whispered. “Just like the ones you bought today?”
“Yep” He said as he blew out another breath. “I could tell you what I’m wearing…but it’d be pointless.”
“Why?” He asked, a bit confused as he was removing his clothes to get in the water.
“I could tell you.” She teased.
“Tell me, Holly.”
“I’m not wearing any.” She breathed, sexily, into the phone and Alex stopped breathing.
“In fact, I’m naked and just getting in the shower.
"“Fuuucckk!” He said and he started to recite his sporting lists. It wasn’t helping.
“I can hear water, are you getting in the shower too?”
“Yes.” He managed to say though gritted teeth.
“Are you naked…right now?” Alex could hear, in Holly’s voice, that she was turned on. It was how she sounded earlier on the sofa.
“Completely.” Alex’s tone low to stir Holly even more. He heard her take a quick breath, and he whimpered, slightly. The way she did when she would bite her lip to stop herself from crying out.
“No more, Holly babe. I can’t take it. You haven’t even touched me and I’m losing control.”
“Neither can I. Just talking to you drives me crazy.” She rasped.
“I think I need to let the cold water cool me down. I love you, Holly.”
“I love you too, Alex.”
“I just need to say one more thing before I go.” He said, his voice dripping with sexiness.
“What is it?”
“Nueve días. Nueve días hasta que tenga desnuda… En la cama.” Alex barely whispered his promise into the phone.
“Oh my fucking hell!” she squealed.
“I’ll leave you to translate that, babe. But, I assure you…I mean it. Goodnight my sexy girl.”
“Goooo aaaahhhh” Was all Holly managed.
Alex stepped into the water and cooled himself down as the water didn’t help much…at all.
“Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!” Said Holly as she held onto the edge of the sink.
She’d translated what Alex had said to her. It wasn’t difficult to make out the words, as he’d said them slowly enough for her to catch them. Holly looked at her phone.
‘Nine days. Nine days until I have you naked…In bed.’
He said he’d meant it too!
“Oh, my, ah!” Holly got under the cold water. Her skin was burning, her breasts were heaving, nipples hard and painful. She was aching between her thighs so much, she could feel her pulse throbbing there.
“How can he do this to me?” she asked out loud, to herself. “How can he get me this way without even being here? Without touching me?”
Holly knew the answers to those questions immediately.
“Because he’s Alex and he’s sexy as hell.”
And all mine.
Once Holly had gotten her wits together, she dried, dressed, and got into bed, the conversation still playing in her mind. She had a good idea that that was what phone sex would be like.
Suddenly, the thought of Alex doing things to himself, because of her, made her tingle all over. She liked turning him on and the thought of him ‘helping’ himself, because of her…she liked it.
She went to bed running his words over in her head.
“Nine days.” She said and smiled to herself before falling asleep.